Panel ceiling panel unit



1956 D. L. JOHNSON PANEL CEILING PANEL UNIT Filed Feb. 18, 1952 Q? 'IZAUII/ bnms W United States Patent PANEL CEILING PANEL UNIT Dale L. Johnson, Waukegan, Ill., assignor to Burgess- Manning Company, Libertyville, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 18, 1952, Serial No. 272,134 Claims. Cl. 189-88) This invention relates to panel ceiling structures which are used for heating rooms by what has come to be known as panel heating or radiating systems. It may, if desired, be used for cooling purposes. The invention herein described is particularly directed to an improved form of ceiling panel and integral support therefor for use in such a radiant ceiling structure providing enhanced heat transfer efliciency, simplicity and security of installation.

The principal feature of the panel unit herein described comprises positive, interlocking clamping elements integral with the panel, which positively and firmly grip supporting heating pipes.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an illustrative structure, taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a ceiling panel embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the panel of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view showing the panel and supporting pipe assembly, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the ceiling panels are installed.

In accordance with the present invention, the ceiling panel unit dealt with herein has a broad, flat surface and flanges integral therewith and extending upwardly from opposite margins of the broad panel surface and embodying integral pipe-clamping elements for supporting the panel and conducting heat to the radiating surface thereof. The panels are preferably fabricated from sheet material, such as aluminum, having a high heat conductivity capacity. Each panel unit is dependent upon coacting elements of adjoining panel units for its support and for the application of the pressure contact with the supporting and heating pipes desirable for eflicient heat transfer.

As shown in the drawing, each panel has a rectangular broad radiating surface consisting of two approximately square faces 1 and 2. These faces are beveled, as at 3, and a V-groove 4 impressed across the panel midway between the ends completes the tile-like appearance of the panel faces.

Flat end flanges 5 and 6 are provided to stilfen the structure and side flanges 7 and 8 are employed for support and heat transfer as well as for stiffening purposes.

As to the form of the coacting elements which together form a complete pipe clamp assembly, it will be noted that each has a curved portion, indicated at 7a and 8a. For reasons which will become apparent, the curvatures of both of these curved portions of the clamp elements, while approximating that of the outer surfaces of pipes 9, may be somewhat greater or smaller than these surfaces to which they eventually conform in the assembled ceiling. Curved portion 7a of flange 7 may extend through an arc of somewhat more or less than 180 and is preferably turned back somewhat at the juncture of the curved portion and the straight vertical portion of flange 7, as shown, but the angle of this juncture may vary considerably between and The curved portion 8a of flange 8 continues in both directions with substantially straight tangential sections to connect with the straight vertical portion of flange 8, and thence to the broad surface of the panel itself. The extremities of both flanges 7 and 8 are retroverted to form interlocking means. Lip 7b at the extreme edge of flange 7 serves as the male element and a shallow groove 8b at the extreme edge of flange 8 serves as the female element of the interlocking assembly shown in Fig. 3.

The panel assembly thus described is installed upon the supporting pipes in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. In this diagrammatic illustration, two complete panels and a portion of a third panel are shown. The work of installation of the panels proceeds in courses throughout the length or width of the ceiling, the direction of progress being from right to left in Fig. 4. The right hand panel is fully installed and the middle panel is in place. Clamping engagement of the right hand pipe 9 is complete, while flange 7 of the intermediate panel is merely resting upon the pipe. The left hand panel is in the process of installation, the interlocking means at the extremities of the left hand and intermediate panels being in engagement. The next step in the installation of these panels is to lower the left side of the left hand panel until flange 7 is brought into engagement with the pipe, this movement serving to tighten the grip of the flange elements upon the intermediate pipe. As a result of the positive force applied in lowering the left side of the left hand panel, the curved portions of flanges 7 and 8 upon the intermediate pipe are stretched into close engagement and conformity with the pipe so that effective thermal contact is made.

In the completely assembled ceiling, hot or cold water is circulated through the pipes 9 to heat or cool them, as the case may be. Temperature changes of the pipes results in corresponding changes in the temperature of the radiating faces of the panels by conduction of heat to or from the pipes through the paths furnished by flanges 7 and 8. The room below the ceiling is accordingly heated or cooled by radiation from or to the panels.

Demountable interlocking means other than that shown and specifically described by way of illustration may be employed without departing from the fundamental concept of the invention.

Invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a panel ceiling for a heat transfer system, a plurality of rectangular panels arranged in a plane to form a ceiling, each said panel having a first flange rising from one side thereof and having an outwardly facing arcuate portion and interlocking means disposed at the extremity thereof and a second flange rising from the side of said panel opposite said first flange and having an outwardly facing arcuate portion and interlocking means complementary with the interlocking means of said first flange and disposed at the extremity of said second flange, said first and second flanges of each panel being integral with said panel and extending substantially ranged in said ceiling with the first and second flanges of adjoining panels interlocked and substantially encircling and clamping a pipe therebetween.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the interlocking means associated with each flange comprises a retroverted edge portion of said flange.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the arcuate portion of one of said flanges lies wholly within the upward projection of said flange and overlies the panel.

- 4. In a panel ceiling for a heat transfer system, a plurality of rectangular panels arranged in a plane to form a ceiling, each said panel having a first flange rising from one side thereof and having an outwardly facing arcuate portion and a narrow edge portion retroverted outwardly with respect to said arcuate portion to form a lip extending along the edge of said flange and a second flange rising from the side of said panel opposite said first flange and having an outwardly facing arcuate portion and a narrow edge portion retroverted inwardly with respect to said arcuate portion of said second flange to form a groove extending along the edge of said second flange, said first and second flanges of each panel being integral with said panel and extending substantially the full length of the side thereof, said panels being arranged with the first and second flanges of adjoining panels adjacent each other in the ceiling and said lips and grooves demountably interlocking and said flanges substantially encircling and clamping a pipe therebetween.

5. A ceiling panel unit comprising a rectangular panel of sheet metal having a first flange rising from one side thereof and having an outwardly facing arcuate portion adapted to partially encircle a pipe and a narrow edge portion retroverted outwardly with respect to said arcuate portion to form a lip extending along the edge of said first flange, said panel having a second flange rising from the side thereof opposite said first flange and having an outwardly facing arcuate portion adapted to partially encircle a pipe and a narrow edge portion retroverted inwardly with respect to said arcuate portion of said second flange to form a groove extending along the edge of said second flange, said first and second flanges of said panel being integral with said panel and extending substantially the full length of the side thereof, the sum of the arcs of the arcuate portions of the first and second flanges being approximately 360 degrees.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 945,682 Berg Jan. 4, 1910 1,475,539 Burtis Nov. 27, 1923 1,971,411 Higley Aug. 28, 1934 2,019,379 Anderson Oct. 29, 1935 2,099,211 Lucius Nov. 16, 1937 2,377,398 Brostrcm June 5, 1945 2,382,340 Smith Aug. 14, 1945 

